Method and apparatus for tubulating lamp-bulbs.



.L E. GRAYBILL. METHOD AND APPARATUS 20B TUBULATING LAMP BuLBs.

APP'LIUATIOB FILED KAY 17. 1904.

. e f Q H?. 4 f4 Y' Ptentea Apr.20,1909'. l

summa-Smm 1.

y I l A t y J. B. GRAYBILL.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOB. TUBULATING LAMP BULBS. l

APPLIOATIOK FILED HAY 1T, 1904.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- UNTTED srArEs PATENT ommen.'v

JOHN E. GRAYBILL, OF YORK, IICNNSYLVANXA, ASSIGNOR 'l'O GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPAY,

, CORPORATION OF KEW YORK.

METHOD A ND APPARATUS FOR TU'BULATING LAMP-BULBS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 20, T909.

Application filed Hay 17, 1904. Serial No. 208,489.

To all w71 om it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN E. Guarana., a citizen of the United States, residing at York, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and .k parat-,us for Tubul'ating Lamp-Bulbs, of wluch the following is a specification.

This invention relates to method of and means lor tixing. the tubes through which the bulbs of`incandescent lamps are exhausted,

to -the bulbs, which operation is known as tubulating.

The object of the invention is to provide a method whereby the tubulating may be cffected in amore efficient manner than heretofore.

It is a further object of the invention to n'ovide a machine whereby the method may lie mlvantageously carried out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an illustration showing bow the method may be carried out by handl'tig. 2 is a side elevation of the preferred form of tubular-ing mn- 2'5 chine; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the tuachine; Fig. 4 is a section on the line av!) of Fig. 2, looking in the direct-ion of the arrow;

'Fim 5 isa section on thelinc c--tl of Fig. 2,

looking in the direction of the arrow and 30. showing :t plan viewol" the bulb holder .-md

burners; Fig. 6 is an end vview ot' the tube holding chuck; and Fig. 7 is a section of the lower end of the tube holder.

An important'featurc of thc mcthod of tubulating according to this invention consists in causing by any suitable moana. preferably pneunmt-ic, the entrance ot' a soltcned portion of the bulb into tbc ond oF the tabulating tube which is to be secured to it, and 40 welding the tube and bulb together. This method secures a lapping over ol'I the edges of the bulb and tube which are secured t-ogather, so that a vstrong joint which is peculiarly free from leakage is obtained. Furthermore, when this` method is practiced it will be found unncccssm'y to punt-turc tbc bulb bcl'ore thc application ol` t he tubc, it bc.-

bulb to which it is dcsircd to sccurc tbc tube,

'50 and at'ter the application of the tubc= thc forcing of the softened portion of the bulb within the end ofthe tube will result in forming the desired llolc. A furl-lier advantage is' realized in the practice of this method in that the carc formerly required to accurately ccnmg only necessary to hcatthat. portion ol' thc released, :md which is prcsscd tightly about ter the hole and tube is no longer necessary, for the reason that from the manner of forming the hole it must necessarily be accurately adjusted to the osition of the tube.

Having descri ed the essentials of the im- 60 proved method, details willl now be given in connectionI with a preferred form of machine for carrying it out.

Referring tothe drawings, it will be noted i that the machine comprises a base on 65- which is mounted a standard B which su iorts a tube holder C, burners' l) and a. bulb iolder E. Upon the base is also mounted a handle l? for operating the tube holder.

The base A may be of any suitable form, the standard B being preferably of circular cross-'section and fixed thereto. Through the standard extends a passage or conduit. l', which atit-s base communicates with a pipe 2 leading through a controlling valve 23 to a 75 pneumaticdevicc, as a vacuum pump (not shown). At the top of the standard the passage 1 communicates by means of a lxible pipe 3 with the top of the tube 'holder C. 'lhe tube holder comprises a tube t which 80 carries at one end' a securing means for the tubulating tube, which in this instance is shown as a chuck comprising a sleeve 5 slidable upon the tube 4 and inclosing the jaw y guide ti having an inclined interior tace wlthin which the jaws 7 are mounted. A collar 3 lixed to the end of the tube 4 prevents the downward movement ofthe jaw guide and a spring t) interposed bet-Ween the jaw guide v ti and the sleeve 5 operates to normally hold 90 thc sleeve in its uppermost position. Each ot' the jaws 7 is secured to thc sleeve. 5 by a piti lt! which extends through a slot 11 in the jawguide ti, so tha-'t the jaws and sleeve may have ,movement i|ulc|wmlcntly of the jaw th guide.

Within the tube :l extends a. conduit or pipe IL', which at its upper cud connects with thc llcxiblc pipc It and at. its lower end is `surrounded by a picco l2; of sol't rubber otothcr 100 suitable material wbicltcxtcuds bctwcelt thc chuck jaws aud is' adapted to surround the cud ola tubulating tubc when thc jaws are the tubulaiting tube by thc jaws when they 1oz.

are in securing position. The elasticity ol' tbc rubber will usually be sullicicut to open Ille jaws whcu they are released but to assist 'this tu-ti-u|springs 55 may bc employed. 'lo secure a tubo in the chuck, the sleeve 5 11o 2 t Y t 918,669 A it and its connected jaws to their normal po-` `sitioii, und because of the inclined engagiin; surfaces ef the jaws and jaw guide, the jaws will be forced together, ihereb)Y compressing the rubber and springe about the tube so that the tube will be secured and a tight lioint between the conduit l2 and the tubulatini: `ube will be. formed. Y

The tube 4 of the. tube holder is fitted loosely within guides 14 which are slidably mounted upon the standard B. These guides may be fixed in position by means ol' set screws'l and may be prevented from rotating about the vstandardV by means ol keys lt. The tube holder may be moved vertically in its guides by means ol a lever l? which is ivoted to the tube holder at lo and to a coliiir it which may be locked in position by means of a set. scieiv similar to the ,sci screws l5. The lever 1T is' connected by a link 2t) with the handle l" which is pivoted to the base at lipon the handle l? is mounted a valve 23 3o which controls coiniininicntion between the pipe l and a pipe '14. The pipe l connects with the passage i in the standard. while the pi ie 24 connects with the. pneumatic source` and itV will thus he seen that ibo llow ol' lluid in the passage l is controlled by means of this valve. The valve may be operated by means of a push button ll located in the. end of the handle l", which when depressed operates te open the valve, and is nora-.ally hcld V4t) in elevated ','ios-ition by a spring `lh'. 'l`he :id-

vniitage ol` thus arranging the apparatus is of great, practical value, as the operator can ierforin a plurality oloperations with om` liand without iinonvenience while the push 45 button 4l can he controlled ieri' accurately,

' Since it is mounted to slide longitudinali)1 ol` the handle and is entirely imail'ected b v the pressure exerted on the handle by the operator in lmoving; the handle back and forth.`

The burners l) may be niounted'nilniii a bracket 25, slidable upon the standard i and which may lic locked in iosition in a. manner similar to that described iii connection with the guides 14. Air and gas are delivered to the burners, which may be ol. :any .suitable construction, by meansV ol' pipes L'ti and 27 which are connected with suitable sources' ot' air and gas, noi; shown. The llow of gas and air to the burners may bc controlled by any suitable means, ab a' iincb-cock Citi a )plied to ilexible sections of tlic pipes 13V amlll', the movable cross-head 3T of the cock being normally pressed upward against the pipcs by a. spring 3H. A rod 39, connected to t ie cross:-

head and terminating in a treadle, furnishes :i convenient means for lowering the crossheadA against the spring to permit the flow of gas and air through the pipes. The bulb holder comprises two brackets 49 and 25, which are slidable upon :und which' 7o may be locked to, the :standard in-ainaiiiier similar to that eir )loved in connection with the guides ifi and the burner bracketr25. One of the bulb holding: brackets comprises an arc-shaped portion 29 having internally- 75 projecting prongs 30 Vwhich are adapted to receive between them and bear against. the upper end of the bulb to be operated u ion. The other bracket 2S carries e scat .'3'1 w iicli has a downwardly-prtier-ting sli-nk 32, slid- 30 abi): mounted in tbe bracket 2S and prcvented from turninpr therein by any suitable iin-ans, suclias a pin 33 extending into a keyway in be shank. The seat. is Vspringpressed upwardl by a spring 34. lu order 55 that the bulb may be accurately placed upon the seat. 31, so that it will be in proper alineinent with the holdin;r device carried by the bracket 49 with the minimum amount of care ou the part'of the operator, a guard 35 no may be carried by the seat, so that the bulb may be accurately positioned by placing its base upon the' seat 3l :ind resting its side against the guard 35.

From ilu foregoing it will be seen that the 95 tube holder and its supportiiicr devices may be adjusted to any desired position upon the standard, and that this-'is also true of the burner supports 'ind the brackets comprised in tbc bul holder. vNormally the bulb ino' holder brackets will be fixed with relation to cach other in a manner as bel'ore described, but in case bulbs ol' dill'erent size are to be accoiiunodaed, they can be adjusted to the changed conditions. The burners are also normally lined with relation to the bulb holder, so that the llames will always play upon the proper point of the bulb,` but thc support. t'orfihe burners is so constructed that it may be :uliusted so that the llameswill 11u connat tiiericht point before it is locked in position. ln other words, the parts are nuituall)7 adjustable so that they ma)v be accommodated to a certain class of work, but are then locked in position and remain fixed ,115 so lontr as the class of work rcinainsfilie saine, and are uot moved with relation to each other at cach operation. 'lliis produces the desiri-.ble result that the operation upon one lamp is precisely thc saine as that upon nnother, without care being taken b v the operator as to the adiustmentof the parts.

'l`hc method and operation of the machine. may now be described as follows. The parts having been adjusted, a tube placed within V12T;

the tube holder and an unpunctured bulbin the bulb holder as before described. gasand piir may be admitted to the burners bv preiys,.

nu; upon the treadle with the foot, w ien the 'play ol' the llames upon the upper end of the lr bulb will cause a softenin;r thv-rml'. lly un` punctured bulb is intended, a bulb .in which the` hole opening: into the lubulattng tube has not been formed. y means of the lmnlle F the link 20 isswung upwardly, thus forcing the tube holder downwardly until the tube is in contact with th'e bulb at its softened portion. Pressure upon the push button 41 o lens the valve 23, when communication wil be opened with the pneumatic apparatus before referred to,` which is preferably a vacuum pum i. The suction tbus created within thetubulnting tube and holder causes the softened glass of the bulb to be drawn up into tht` end of the tubnlating tube,

when further heating of the tube and bulb operates to fuse them taugt-ther. and .upon cooling a firmly welded lapped joint xs obtained. v

lt is desirable to form a contraction in the tube near its` ioint. with the bulb to facilitate the scaling otl' of the bulb after its exhaust ion has taken place. To accomplish this, the tube holder, and with it the tube, is raised to some extent while the tube is still hot, thus producing the desired contraction. f

It has been found desirable in order to produce a smooth joint, to prevcn'.l the. collapsing of the tube while being drawn out, and also to cool the joint, that a current of cool air be forced throughthc tube and bulb during or immediatelv succeeding the drawing out of the tube. o accomplish this result a, tube connected with a source of compressed air may be connected with the passaggi3 l in the standard, which tube muy be controlled by a lever ll pivotcd at 4?, on the base A, the end 44 of this lever operatiiu; as a pinch-cock upon a flexible portion of the )ipe connectingr the compressed air supply with the passage l. A spring 45 operates to maintain this cock normally closed, and it can be opened by pressure upon the button '16, An adjusting screw 47 regulates the amount ofropening of the cock.

The operations having been performed as described, the tuhulation 4will be complete and thc .tubulated bulb may be removed from the apparatus, when another bulb and tube may ie. placed in position and the operation repeated.

l/Vhilc a preferred machine for carrying out the method has been described, the method may be carried out by different machines or even by. hand as illustrated in Fig. l, in which 50 indicates a bulb, 51, a tubulat-ing tube, 52, a flexible conduit connected with the. tube 51 and a vacuum pump (not shown), the connection with the pump being controlled by a pinch-cock 53. w

Although in the performance' of the method, the softened portion of the bulb is preferably sucked up into the tubulating tube by means of 'a vacuum applied to the tube, it is obvious that the same result could l. 'lhe method ofjoiuing a tubulnlingtulw yto a bulb, which consists in applying` :t tube to an tmpuncturcd bulb, causing a softened portion ol the bulb to enter thcend of thc tube, und .welding the bulb and tube together, subst antiallv :is described.

i 2. The method of joining'a tubulatingtube to a bulb` which consists in applying u. tubeto an unpunct urcd bulb, pneunuttically causing n softened portion oi' the bulb to enter thc end of thc tube. and welding; the bulb and tube together, substantially as described. 3. The method ol' joining a tubulatingtubc. to a bulb, which consists in applying a tube to an un )unt-lured bulb, reducing the pressure in the tube below the pressure in the bulb. whereby a softened portion of the bulb is drawn into the tube, and welding tho tube and bulb together, substantially as described. 4. 'l`hc method ol' joining a tubulating tube. to a bulb, which consists in heating a portion of an unpunctnred bulb, applying a tube t0 the heated portion, causing a heated portion of the. bulb to enter the t-ubc, heating said bulb and tube so that they become fused togather, and cooling7 said bulb and tube, substantially as described.

5. 'l`hc method of joiningl a tubula-tiug tube to n bulb, which consists in heating a portion ol' an unpuncturcd bulb, applying a tube t-o -the heated port-ion, reducing the pressure ir. the tube. bplow the pressure in thc bulb whereby a heated portion of the bulb is caused to einer' the tubo, heating said bulb and tube so 'that they become fused to ether, and coolingl said bulb and tube, su stalitially as described.

G. The method of tubulating electric lamp bulbs, consisting in applying one end ofa tube against an unpunctured surface ol' a lamp bulb, and then puncturing the bulb and causing the portion thereof surroundingthe. puncture to enter said tube, substantially as described. i

7. The method of tubulatincr electric lamp bulbs, consisting in softening a suitable poragainst said softened ortion of the bulb, and then punctturing the bulb in alinctnent with the. tube and forcing into the. tube the softened portion of the bulb surrounding the puncture. substantially 'as described.

8.' In a tubulating machine, the combinaburners and a stationary bulb holder u on said standard, and a-tube holder, flexily mounted on said standard, substantially as described.

Inv a. tubulating machine, the combination of a bulb, applying one end of a tube tion with a stationary standard, -of stationary ilo , 4o 14. In a'tubulating machine, the combine- -4ft5 the tion* oi' fluid through said el: p v. 918,069'

tion lwith a stationary standard, of n stationury but adjustable bulb holder, stationary but. udjustubl(- burners, said holder and burners being.; mounted on Suid stsndnrd, and menus for iocking said. holder and burners with relation to eachother, substantially .ns described.

lf). ln atubulnting nmchinc, thecombiuntion with n stutionnrystandard ol' :i bulb holder comprising brnckets sl'tlnblc. upon said st nndnrd, one of snid brackets being construrtcd toreccive on(` end of the bulb und u' spring: pressed seat for tlu` other end ofsaid bulb mounted on the other bracket, menus 1 5 for locking said brsu'kets with relation to euch other und burners mounted on said standard, substantially us described.

H .lu u tubulin-ing machine, the combinetion with u stationary standard, of :i tubo holder slidnblj: mounted ou Suid. standard, n lever pivoteil to Suid holdcrnnd said stand- :ird und burners mounted upon snid standard, substantially :is described 1L. ln a tubulnting machine, the combination with n sn'ntiionnrjv stiuidurd, of a tube 'holder slidnbly mounted thereon n lever pirotcd to said standard and holder, :i handle for operating said holder, links connecting said, lever tud handle und burners mounted :to upon seid standard, substantially described.

115. ln n tubulntimy machine, the combinn tion with'ii tube hoh. er(` of n hnndle for oper- :ding snid holder, menus for connecting` snid handle sud holder, a. passage conununicnting wit-h said hohler, and means mounted on said handle for mntrolling the flow of t'luid through sind passage, subsnntiullyns de scribe-d.

tion with a tube holder, of a. handle for operi-.ting said holder, menus connecting' seid handle nnd'holder7 e nssuge communicating with snid holder, um n volvo for controlling` A ALSSfLUQ'., mounted on sind handle, substantial v :is escl'ilwd. I

15. [n n tubulnting manchino, the combin.-l

tion with n suitable standard, of n bulb holder mountedon seid st :indnrd :1nd adapt-ed tribe secured thereto :it :my desired eleva.-

t.ion, burners supported on brackets adjustnbly connected with the standard, yn tube holder supported by the standard above the burners and having im adjustable chuck, and n lever fulcrumed on the standard and ndnptcd to move said tube .holder to and issY from the bulli holder, substantially ns de- A' scribed. Y. 16. ln a tubuluting mnchine,the combines tion of n bulbl holder, n tube holder, means forv c'ecting n. relative adustmcnt of snid-` uding u'suitnble bulb :md "ubs` holders inchundlc, tluid pressure menus lor uncturing the bulb, und menus on suid hun( lc for controlling the operation of said fluid pressure means, substantially' :is described.

i7. ln u. tubuliningnuufhinm the combination ot' u bulb holder, :1 tube holder, means for moving the tube holder to and from the bulb holder, including n suitable handle, fluid pressure menus for puncturing the bulb, :md means on said handle for controlling said fluid pressure devicesl substantially, ns described.

18. In :in incandescent lump making ma- `chine, the combination with un adu'stnble holder, of :i pivoted handle connecte( to said holder, :1 pipe connected to seid holder, a second pipe connected to a fluid pressure de vii-e, a controller mounted adjacent the end of said 'handle in n recess in Suid handle to move longitudinally thereof and thereby control'cmnmunication between said pipes.

19. In an incandescent lump milking muehinc, the combination with an :id'ustable holder, of n. piroted handle connectet/o said holder, flexible pipes carried by the handle und connected to said holder and'to a tluid pressure device, a vvnlvoon the handle for controlling communication between the ipes f und a vulve actuator adjacent the end o said handle and slidsbly mounted in n recess inl scid handle to move longitudinally thereof.

ln testimony whereof I have signed my unmet-o 'this specification inthe .presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN E. oRAYBlLL.

Witnesses:

LLEN M. WELLENs1En, Rrcxrn.'E. COCHRAN. 

